Page 28 of Ranger Belief
Andy mulled that over for a minute and dipped his chin. “You’re right. I just…I find it hard to believe he had anything to do with this.”
“Do me a favor. Reach out to the people on Zoe's schedule who were in the wildlife center at the same time as Ava. See if any of them remember her or Eddie. Frame it as routine follow-up for the investigation. Don't mention that Eddie's a person of interest.”
He nodded sharply. “You got it.”
Laney started to turn away and then stopped. “Oh, and Andy, please be discreet. We don’t know with any certainty that Eddie is involved. I don't want to damage his reputation, especially if there's an innocent explanation.”
“Understood.”
His expression was troubled. Laney could tell Andy didn’t like the idea of one of their own being responsible for theseheinous crimes any more than she did. She couldn’t walk away without giving him some measure of comfort. “Try not to worry. We’ll figure this out.”
He nodded and then ambled toward the visitor center, his gait slower than she remembered. He suddenly looked…old. Andy had worked for the park service for nearly thirty years. He’d made it clear he didn’t want the superintendent job. None of the other rangers on staff had enough experience to take on the challenge. Which meant that if Laney didn’t take the job, they would have to bring in someone from outside Piney Woods. Someone who may not agree with the programs they created or their renovation plans.
Someone who might not care about the employees the way she did…
Guilt swamped her. How could she walk away from this promotion? The thought was followed immediately by a sense of panic and dread. Taking the job would mean staying here permanently…something she’d never planned on or wanted.
“You okay?” Jonah’s question jolted Laney out of her thoughts. “You went a million miles away.”
She shook her head. “Sorry. Just thinking. Let’s get this over with.” Laney crossed the grass toward the boathouse. Movement near the dock caught her eye. A man was fishing in the restricted section near the rental area. She altered course, Jonah following.
The fisherman wore scuffed tennis shoes, a sweat-stained gray T-shirt, and a faded red ball cap pulled low over his eyes. His fishing pole looked worse for wear, with duct tape holding the reel assembly together. A scraggly beard covered the lower half of his face, and he had the weathered, sun-damaged skin of someone who spent most of their time outdoors. He didn't notice their approach, focused on his line.
“Excuse me, sir,” Laney called out.
The man’s head jerked up, his muddy brown eyes widening beneath the brim of his cap. Up close, she could see the nervous tension in his posture. His gaze shot from her to Jonah. His fishing pole trembled.
“You can't fish here. This area is reserved for boat rentals and swimming. There's designated fishing spots marked on the map at the visitor center, or you can fish from the north shore.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” His words were hurried, and he immediately started reeling in his line, the movements jerky. “Didn't know. I'll move.”
“No problem. Just check the park map next time. And make sure you have a valid fishing license. It's required.”
He bobbed his head without making eye contact, already gathering his tackle box. Within seconds, he'd packed up and was heading toward the tree line at a brisk walk.
Laney watched him go for a moment before turning back toward the boathouse.
“He was nervous,” Jonah observed.
“Probably afraid I was going to cite him. Sometimes, people who are food insecure or homeless come here to fish, and don’t have a permit. I don’t like to write them up unless they continually violate the rules.”
They reached the boathouse. Through the open bay doors, Laney could see the Sunday afternoon rush in full swing. A family of four clustered around the rental counter, the parents debating between kayaks and canoes while their kids bounced with impatience. Two college-aged guys were hauling life jackets from the storage racks, and a young couple stood near the dock studying a laminated map of the lake's best fishing spots.
Eddie stood behind the counter processing paperwork, while Marcus Garcia—one of their weekend staff—helped the family select paddle sizes. The hum of activity and chatter filled the space, punctuated by the slap of water against the dock pilings.
Not ideal for a sensitive interview.
Laney caught Eddie's eye and gestured toward the door. He said something to Marcus, and then made his way over, wiping his hands on a towel tucked into his belt. Laney led him out into the gray afternoon and around the corner to a quiet picnic bench out of the sight of others. “Have a seat, Eddie.”
“Is there a problem, ma’am?” His Adam’s apple bobbed, but he did as she requested, folding his long legs underneath the table. The wind ruffled his hair, revealing some gray at the temples. Dark circles ringed his eyes. It didn’t look like Eddie was getting much sleep.
“We need to ask you a few more questions about Ava.” She kept her voice neutral, but her gaze was locked on the other man. Jonah had planted himself a short distance away, leaning casually on a nearby tree. Close enough to hear the conversation, but far enough away so as not to be intimidating. A calculated move, Laney was sure. They needed Eddie to feel comfortable enough to talk. “Why didn’t you mention Ava was a volunteer at Piney Woods?”
Eddie blinked. “She was?”
Playing stupid? Or genuinely confused? Laney couldn’t tell. “She worked with you during the Spring Jamboree in the wildlife center. You were her direct supervisor.”
His cheeks heated, and his gaze slid away from hers. “Last spring was a hectic time. I…I had no idea…I didn’t remember her. We had a lot of volunteers for the Jamboree and…” He pulled at the collar of his shirt as his explanation drifted off. “Is that important?”
